Assessment of Biomarkers in asbestos-exposed workers as indicators of cancer risk

• Published in: Mutation research Vol. 655; no. 1; pp. 52 - 58
• Main Authors: Amati, Monica, Tomasetti, Marco, Mariotti, Laura, Tarquini, Lucia Miria, Valentino, Matteo, Santarelli, Lory
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Asbestos - adverse effects; Asbestos exposure; Asbestos-exposed workers; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Carcinogenic risk; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Humans; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Malignant mesothelioma; Medical sciences; Mesothelioma - blood; Mesothelioma - diagnosis; Mesothelioma - prevention & control; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - blood; Occupational Diseases - diagnosis; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Occupational Exposure; Pleural Neoplasms - blood; Pleural Neoplasms - diagnosis; Pleural Neoplasms - prevention & control; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Toxicology; Asbestos-exposed workers; Biomarkers; Malignant mesothelioma; Carcinogenic risk; Asbestos exposure; Toxicology; Asbestos; Asbestos exposure;Asbestos-exposed workers;Carcinogenic risk;Malignant mesothelioma;Biomarkers; Biological marker; Genetics; Risk; Malignant tumor; Occupational exposure; Indicator; Cancer
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 0027-5107; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2008.06.011

Epidemiological studies have shown that mortality from malignant mesothelioma (MM) and lung cancer have increased with increasing cumulative exposure to asbestos. To investigate whether tumour-related biomarkers can contribute towards the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk in populations exposed to asbestos, the DNA adduct 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), interleukine-6 (IL-6), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFβ) and soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs) were analysed in a cohort of workers differently exposed to asbestos fibres at the workplace. To document biomarker levels in an unexposed population, 54 age-matched subjects were enrolled. A total of 119 subjects with a history of occupational exposure to asbestos underwent clinical examination and were interviewed by trained personnel, responding to a detailed questionnaire related to duration of asbestos exposure, smoking, and occupational task. According to the occupational tasks, asbestos-exposed subjects were analysed for their asbestos cumulative dose and the association with the biomarkers was evaluated. Among the occupational groups, maintenance workers, pipe fitters and electricians were exposed to a higher cumulative dose of asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos significantly increased the steady-state content of 8OHdG in DNA. Elevated levels of 8OHdG and IL-6 best reflected a high level of SMRPs, which is related to cell transformation. Subjects heavily exposed to asbestos [>60 (ff/cm 3) × years] showed also a higher level of angiogenic factors. A combination of angiogenic biomarkers with a specific mesothelioma-biomarker such as SMRPs could be used for close surveillance of workers with a history of asbestos exposure.